Nasal Septal Deviation and Compensated Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy

Kim, Sung Won; Park, Hyun Jin; Jun, Beom Cho; Ahn, Kook Jin; Lee, Seung Kyun; Kim, Soo Whan; Cho, Jin Hee; Yoon, He Ro

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Septoplasty with or without turbinate surgery is performed by many otorhinolaryngologists. However, the surgical methods largely rely on clinical judgement alone. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between deviated nasal septum and inferior turbinate with compensatory hypertrophy on paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) and to suggest a guideline for septal and turbinate surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Paranasal sinus CT scans of twenty patients with nasal septal deviation and compensatory hypertrophy of inferior turbinate were taken and reviewed. Measurements of thickness of mucosa and medial conchal bone, projection angle of inferior turbinate, distance between medial conchal bone and lateral nasal line, and interval between median line and conchal bone were obtained. Each measurement was compared with that of opposite side of nasal cavity and normal control subjects. RESULTS: The thickness of medial mucosa and conchal bone of inferior turbinate of concave side were more increased than those of the other side (p<0.05). The projection angles of conchal bone from lateral nasal wall in each side were different and the distances between medial conchal bone and lateral nasal line were more increased in concave side (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Septoplasty and concomitant inferior turbinate surgery that manipulates conchal bone and soft tissue is necessary for the patients with a complaint of nasal obstruction. Reduction of medial mucosa and out-fracture of hypertrophied inferior turbinate are proper for the concomitant inferior turbinate surgery. The data gathered using CT images are important in making a decision regarding turbinate surgery in septoplasty.